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UN official calls on Europe, Gulf to host Syrians

Updated at: 11/28/2013 2:05 PM
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(AP) AMMAN, Jordan - The head of the United Nations refugee agency has called on European and Gulf Arab states to host Syrian refugees who fled the civil war.

Antonio Guterres, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, says nearly 3 million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries _ mainly Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. He says an additional 6.5 million are displaced in their war-ravaged country.

Guterres says of the nearly 3 million refugees in neighboring countries, some 2.3 million are registering with the U.N. refugee agency.

Guterres met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Thursday.

After the meeting, Guterres said the refugee crisis "is alarming." He called for more financial support for countries hosting the refugees and warned a shortfall in funding may force host countries to become "unable to receive more refugees."